Amiota durangoensis, Jones & Grimaldi, 2022

Jones, Lance E. & Grimaldi, David A., 2022, Revision Of The Nearctic Species Of The Genus Amiota Loew (Diptera: Drosophilidae), Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2022 (458), pp. 1-181 : 30-31

Amiota durangoensis , sp. nov.

Figures 9C–D , 11B–C , 13 , 82A

DIAGNOSIS: Small fly (ThL 0.99–1.13 mm), dark blackish brown; cheek deep (EL/CW 8.33– 11.20), grayish white; arista with short plumosity; subepandrial sclerite with uniquely paired, grasping, subepandrial appendage: each half armlike, apices with strongly sclerotized spines and teeth, asymmetrical, curving inward medially; outer paraphysis simple, linear, sclerotized; inner paraphysis armlike, with 5–6 sclerotized, toothlike structures at distal end; ejaculatory apodeme extremely large, length greater than depth of epandrium.

DESCRIPTION: Small fly (ThL 0.99–1.13 mm), dark blackish brown, legs yellow. Frons very dark, dark brown to black. Cheek deep (EL/CW 8.33–11.20), grayish-white. Palp yellow. Tergite 1 lightly colored. Arista: Short, plumose, branches decumbent; longest branch D2; A.R. 0.29; 2 dorsal, 2 ventral branches; branch V1, V2 pointed mediad; arista trunk with medium microtrichia, trunk zigzagged at apical third. Male genitalia: Epandrium separated at dorsal midline, but margins discrete (not grading into surrounding membrane). Cercus semicircular, relatively small and flattened, surrounded by large membranous region. Surstylus approximately square; 10 long prensisetae, apices blunt, closely arranged, comblike; setulae scattered over broad surface. Subepandrial sclerite very distinctive: Paired, each half armlike, large, broad in lateral view, curving medially; distal ends with heavily sclerotized spines and teeth, including large dorsal spine on each, “dentition” differs between each half; subepandrial complex covered in membrane. Outer paraphysis long, slender, linear (very slightly sinuous), distal end more heavily sclerotized, tapered to blunt point, cluster of long trichoid sensilla just proximal to midpoint. Inner paraphysis armlike, smaller than subepandrial appendage (~1/2 length of outer pair); distal end with 5–6 heavily sclerotized, irregular toothlike projections. Aedeagal apodeme slightly expanded at distal end, no concave depression; slightly longer than wide; moderately bent at posterior end, in lateral view. Hypandrium wide, of varying thickness; with 4 small, flat, wrinkled lobes on outer margin straddling the apex. Ejaculatory apodeme very large, 1.25× length of epandrium. Head and thorax measurements: (n = 5; Am 1414, 1456, 1458, 1513, 1520) FL/FW 0.79 (0.74–0.82), EL/ EW 1.25 (1.15–1.33), EL/CW 9.63 (8.33–11.20), FML/FMW 0.22 (0.21–0.24), PR /RR 0.63 (0.55– 0.66), ThL 1.05 (0.99–1.13 mm).

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype: male: 14 mi. SW. El Salto, Dgo. [Durango] MEX., [23.786449, -105.597725], 8000′, June “9” 1964, J.F. McAlpine, Am 1520, [glued directly to pin, dissected]. Deposited in the Canadian National Collection ( CNC). Paratypes: 14 mi. SW. El Salto, Dgo. [Durango] MEX., 8000′, June “9” 1964, J.F. McAlpine, attracted to man [2 specimens], 5♂ (Am 1456*, 1458*, 1502*, 1513*, 1554*, CNC).

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED: Mexico: Durango: 14 mi. SW. El Salto, 8000′, 1964-06-26, leg. J.F. McAlpine, attracted to man, 1♂ (Am 1509*, CNC). Sinaloa: Portrerillos, 15 mi. W El Palmito, 5000′, 1964-07-08, leg. J.F. McAlpine, 1♂ (Am 1414*, CNC).

ETYMOLOGY: Derived from the state of Durango in Mexico, location of the type series.

DISTRIBUTION: Amiota durangoensis is currently known only from the states of Durango and Sinoloa in Mexico. It may be a more restricted species given no specimens have been collected in extensively sampled areas of the south for this genus.

COMMENTS: The remarkable paired, grasping structure of the subepandrial appendage is unique in the genus, and is an excellent example of the trade-off in Amiota between development of this appendage and the paraphyses. This species exhibits the characteristic behavior of attraction to the eyes and face common to many Amiota .

Figures

FIG. 9. Heads and lateral views, A. alboguttata species group. A–B. A. communis Chen and Steyskal (Am 426). C–D. A. durangoensis, sp. nov. (Am 1509).

FIG. 11. Aristae, A. alboguttata species group. A. A. communis Chen and Steyskal. B–C. A. durangoensis. D–E. A. lineiventris Máca. Not to same scale.

FIG. 13. Male terminalia, A. durangoensis. A. Ejaculatory apodeme. B. Lateral view. C. Subepandrial appendage, distal margin. D. Inner paraphysis, apex. E. Outer paraphysis, entire. F. Posterior view. G. Outer paraphyses, ventral view. H. Aedeagal apodeme. I. Surstylus. J. Outer paraphysis, distal end (posterior view). K. Subepandrial appendage. (Am 1520, holotype).

FIG. 82. Distribution maps, A. alboguttata species group. A. A. durangoensis. B. A. lineiventris Máca. C. A. steyskali Máca.